Dear Dmytro,
Thank you for hosting me today here in Kyiv, under really unique circumstances. This great city, as well as the rest of the country, is on a daily basis under vicious attacks, resulting in the death and injury of dozens of unarmed innocent people.
Greece condemns these attacks in the strongest of terms. Let me say that these attacks constitute war crimes.
Since the beginning of the war, this is my third visit to Ukraine. I have visited Odessa twice, as Dmytro already knows. A city connected with Greek history and the Greek Community of Ukraine.
I have to say that I also consider my visit symbolic, because I am here today in order to express the full solidarity of the Greek Government -the Government of Prime Minister Mitsotakis, of the Greek society and of the Greek people to the Ukrainian Government and the people of Ukraine.
As I stand here, I will repeat what I have been saying all along. For Greece, respect for International Law, for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries is the “holy gospel” of our foreign policy. From day one, we condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We do not recognize the illegal annexation of Ukraine’s regions.
Our people are bound together with a long peaceful history of interaction. For centuries, Greeks have been present especially on the Black Sea shores. In cities such as Odessa, as Mariupol, which has a Greek name, the city of Mary, of Virgin Mary. Odessa was the birthplace of the secret society “Filiki Eteria” which contributed to the Greek War of Independence, with the symbol “Eleftheria i Thanatos”, “Freedom or Death”, which Dmytro just repeated and which represents the current effort of the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian society.
First of all, I have to say that Greece is also strongly committed to accountability for war crimes. I have sent a relevant letter to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and I visited the Hague myself. We will never forget the crimes committed in Mariupol. In our effort to help Ukraine, we unequivocally support the European Council’s decision to grant Ukraine EU candidate status. Also, we have offered the port of Alexandroupolis as a hub for Allies wishing to send aid to Ukraine. And of course, we are implementing all sanctions against Russia.
Also, we responded effectively to the needs of tens of thousands of Ukrainian citizens seeking refuge from the war. And I would like to thank Dmytro for appreciating this.
And we are ready and working together for the promotion of the candidacy of the Historic Centre of Odessa for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Also, I need to thank deeply and from my heart Ukraine for supporting Greece’s candidacy for a seat at the UN Security Council for 2025-26.
Dear Dmytro,
Nobody can understand you better than the Greeks. Because Greeks also have a big neighbour in the East. A neighbour that has issued a threat of war, a casus belli, against us. A neighbour that calls for the demilitarisation of our territory, while amassing large forces just opposite our borders. A neighbour that illegally claims that part of our territory is theirs. A neighbour that repeatedly says that they may come suddenly at night. A neighbour that states that unless we bow to its wishes, we will have the fate of Ukraine.
Dear Dmytro,
Our answer is very simple on all cases.
We are with Ukraine.
We stand by Ukraine.
Thank you so much for hosting me here today.
JOURNALIST: During the last months, we in Greece live under a real threat of war. Regarding Greece, do you have a specific message to send to Ankara from here? And does your visit here symbolise something more?
N. DENDIAS: First of all, my visit here is symbolic in the sense that I would like to manifest the support of our government and of our society to the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian society fighting for their freedom.
But it also has a more general meaning. The Ukrainian society and the Ukrainian people, in their effort, fight against any authoritarian government that attacks foreign countries and tries by force to change the internationally recognised borders. And we are totally against any such narrative. So, a victory by Ukraine will mean a victory of International Law against force, against brutal force. And that applies to everybody that copies arguments used by Russia in its effort to subdue Ukraine.
JOURNALIST: On the BMP-1 40 armoured vehicles, the German side has not confirmed yet the beginning of the circle of exchange. Could you please elaborate on the terms of the exchange between Germany, Ukraine and Greece and if there is any further development?
N. DENDIAS: Well, I would prefer rather not to speak about exchanges of military equipment in public, but I have briefed my colleague in private on the status, under direct instructions from my Prime Minister.
JOURNALIST: We, along with the Ukrainians here are witnessing the killing of civilians and very difficult moments, but, you, Mr. Dendias, also spoke about the threats that our country faces too. So, I’d like to know if you believe that Putin and Russia’s stance towards Ukraine shares any similarities to Turkey’s stance towards Greece.
N. DENDIAS: First of all, I’d like to tell you that I am shocked by what I witnessed today in Kyiv, namely a large city under attack and the death of civilians -that is, non-military targets. This, in our opinion, but also in the opinion of every human being and according to International Law, constitutes a war crime.
Aside from that, in my initial statement I highlighted one by one the elements of similarity between what Greek society is facing today and what Ukraine was facing before the invasion. I hope, however, that the Ukrainian successes and the defeat of the revisionist narrative will set a good example to those who believe they can disregard International Law. And this applies to all of humanity.